Friday, January 13, 2012
Phone: 5249 6700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
A Star News Group publication
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Surfer wins wave battle BY ERIN PEARSON JAN JUC surf sensation Jeff Rowley has entered the record books after riding a 15 metre wave unassisted in Hawaii last week. Rowley, 32, had been planning the surfing campaign for more than 12 months to raise money for his Charge for Charity Breast Cancer fundraiser. He began his fundraising mission after four close female friends were diagnosed with cancer in 2010. “The waves were moving about 50 kilometres an hour and the wind was absolutely howling so every instinct is telling you it can’t be done, but we did it, it’s unbelievable,” he said. Rowley became the first Australian surfer to paddle into the waves unassisted at Jaws in Peahi, considered the world’s largest and most dangerous. “I was going to catch that wave no matter what happened, it was massive and I was in the right position and it was my time to go for it,” he said. “I stood up and the wind hit me and tried to rip my board from under my feet as I started freefalling, I couldn’t see a thing but I pushed down as hard as I could and made the ride. “It was like trying to catch a Tyrannosaurus Rex with your bare hands – the best thrill but you’re so glad to be alive.” Rowley said until recently it was considered impossible to catch and ride without the use of a jet ski “tow-in” and foot straps. Rowley’s Jaws rides will be entered into the 2011-12 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave surfing awards.
Surfin’ USA: Jeff Rowley captured in his big wave moment.
Tradie dumps ‘dangerous’ BY ERIN PEARSON ILLEGALLY dumped rubbish at Surf Coast beaches and reserves is threatening the community and environment, according to the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee. Outdoor works supervisor Phil Brown said the dumping, mainly by tradesmen, was a “regular occurrence”. Mr Brown said there were also serious health risks associated
with the unsafe disposal of dangerous materials from construction sites. The unsafe disposal of asbestos, in particular, posed a serious threat to the health of the community and environment, he said. “Contractors have been incorrectly disposing of rubbish including large slabs of concrete at Point Impossible and other quiet areas where they think they won’t get caught,” Mr Brown said.
The committee’s Coastal Reserves manager Rod Goring said GORCC managed 500 hectares of land along the coast including reserves and beaches. He said Point Impossible and Fairhaven areas had been identified as “hot spots” for illegal dumping. “It’s frustrating because the cost falls back on us to pick up and remove it,” he said. “We’re seeing it more in quiet
locations and at times when people aren’t around.” The Independent reported early last year that railway reserves around Lara had become illegal dumps for building material and asbestos, according to the state’s Environmental Protection Authority. South West manager Gavan Mathieson said the dumps were growing as home renovators and lazy professionals sought cheap
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nature we encourage them to call our 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (372 842) and report these people. “We rely on the community to be our eyes and ears on this issue.” Ms Gittings said EPA could also hand out $244 fines for littering. Councillor Ron Humphrey urged tradies to clean up their act with the coast being on show to tourists during the summer period.
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and easy ways to dispose of waste. The authority was receiving at least one report a week, he said. EPA’s Kate Gittings said individuals faced fines of around $1200 and companies up to $6000 if caught dumping waste illegally . Large-scale cases could attract fines of up to $250,000 if taken to court, she said. “It’s a really wide-spread problem that’s growing,” she said. “If people see anything of this
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